The RoundHouse | 3/2/2024 9:30:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
What Colby Rogers does with a bit of open space behind the three-point line and the basketball is anything but routine.
 
It is the routine, however, that makes him special. Wichita State coach Paul Mills appreciates details, routine, and consistency. Rogers also knows the importance of those unexciting building blocks of the thrill of a three-pointer splashing through the nets.
 
He is one of the American Athletic Conference's best shooters. He is shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range after making 7 of 9 in Saturday's 87-66 win over Rice at Koch Arena. That makes him 12 for 15 in his past two games, following a 5-for-24 slump in the previous four.
 
Rogers didn't change a thing.
 
"I hunkered down in my workouts," Rogers said. "I'm not really worried about the misses and makes. It's just taking those shots with the thought in my mind that I'm doing this to win."
 
Mills has seen enough of Rogers, a 6-foot-4 guard, to know those shots would fall again and soon.
 
"We knew he was better than that," Mills said. "You've seen it enough in practice. You knew he was plenty capable."
 
Rogers earns that confidence in many ways, none more important than his 7 a.m. workouts. Whether Rogers goes 5 for 6 (as he did in the win at UAB) or 1 for 5 (as he did in a loss to Temple), the workouts don't change.
 
 

Casual @_colbyrogers pic.twitter.com/AE1hUYiTtS

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) March 3, 2024

 
 
"If you came in here at 7 a.m., you're going to see Colby Rogers," Mills said. "You need to stay the course. I think what happens with a lot of players is that if I shoot well, I stop working out. If I shoot poorly, I come in an overdo it. That's not him. He'll continue to put in the work."
 
The Shockers (13-17, 5-12 AAC) are working through a difficult season and seeing some rewards in March. Rogers' shooting performance and 25 points highlighted the win over the Owls (11-18, 5-11), but several other Shockers rewarded the fans who came to the home finale. Wichita State made a season-high 14 three-pointers, always a good start to building a win.
 
"It's been up and down all year," Rogers said. "To finish strong is one of the best things we could do."
 
Quincy Ballard treated fans to three blocked shots. Harland Beverly made all three of his three-pointers on his way to a season-high 23 points. Dalen Ridgnal made 3 of 5 three-pointers. Kenny Pohto grabbed four offensive rebounds and slammed the door on Rice's slim hopes with a back-to-back second-chance points that expanded the lead to 65-50.
 
"Our guys were excited to play," Mills said. "Growth happens behind closed doors. It doesn't always happen in the light. These guys have played the part of 'How do we get better' this entire process."
 
The Shockers didn't only shoot the Owls out of the gym. They produced one of their best efforts of the season by paying attention to the scouting report to run the Owls off open three-pointers. They limited Alem Huseinovic – a 45.2-percent three-point shooter in AAC play – to a 0-for-5 shooting night. Mason Mekhi – 41.1 percent from three – went 0 for 3.
 
Despite a hot first half by the Owls, the Shockers kept at it and the numbers worked in their favor. Rice went 9 for 26 in the second half.
 
"They were hitting shots we were willing to give up," Rogers said.
 
That changed after halftime.
 
"We had to eliminate catch-and-shoots," Mills said. "We did a really good job on their best shooter (Huseinovic)."
 
The Shockers recorded 18 assists on their 30 baskets, matching their high in conference play.  
 
"Our shots were very open because we were willing to pass the ball," Beverly said.

Sometimes improvement does happen under the bright lights. On Saturday, the Shockers made shots, made free throws, followed the defensive plan and built on a lead. Good habits behind closed doors show up eventually.
 
 

The dish.
The finish.@Harlond20 → @Ronnie_DeGray23 pic.twitter.com/DYbMZOPaIc

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) March 3, 2024

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.